skimmers
 Skimmers A skimmer, a variation of the mechanical filter, removes debris from your koi pond before it has a chance to sink to the bottom. In the skimmer, a bag holds the debris. This bag is removed and emptied a couple of times a month. If your koi pond or water garden is surrounded by numerous deciduous trees as mine is, you will find a skimmer indispensable. Installed in the ground at the perimeter of the pond, it is recommended that a skimmer be run with a separate pump. This way all the water in the koi pond or water garden is circulated regularly, not just the surface.
If you want your skimmer to be effective, you will need to combine it with a pump that can circulate all the water in the pond at least once every two hours. If you have also installed a waterfall or fountain with your skimmer, be sure your pump is large enough to operate the feature and still provide the sufficient circulation through the filter. If you're not sure of your needs, your water garden dealer can advise you. If possible, depending on your budget, select a skimmer-filter that exceeds the minimum requirements for your pond. Naturally, the larger your skimmer, the less often you will need to clean it. Fortunately, cleaning generally only takes a few minutes: you simply remove the screen, cartridge, or filter and wash it off with a garden hose.  For most ponds, a skimmer and mechanical or biological filter will be sufficient. However, where algae or fish diseases are an ongoing problem, consider adding a device such as an ultraviolet sterilizer that will help to combat the problem. These are sometimes used in conjunction with a biological filter. A natural plant filter is another option. This filter is nothing more than a large tub densely planted with such plants as water hyacinths or water lettuce and placed between the filter outlet and the main pond. hummingbird wall fountain  |
|